dictionary definitions for "garnish"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  garnish
      n 1: something (such as parsley) added to a dish for flavor or
           decoration
      2: any decoration added as a trimming or adornment
      v 1: take a debtor's wages on legal orders, such as for child
           support; "His employer garnished his wages in order to
           pay his debt" [syn: garnishee]
      2: decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods
         [syn: trim, dress]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Garnish \Gar"nish\, n.
     1. Something added for embellishment; decoration; ornament;
        also, dress; garments, especially such as are showy or
        decorated.
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              So are you, sweet,
              Even in the lovely garnish of a boy.  --Shak.
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              Matter and figure they produce;
              For garnish this, and that for use.   --Prior.
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     2. (Cookery) Something set round or upon a dish as an
        embellishment, such as parsley. See Garnish, v. t., 2.
        --Smart.
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     3. Fetters. [Cant]
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     4. A fee; specifically, in English jails, formerly an
        unauthorized fee demanded by the old prisoners of a
        newcomer. [Cant] --Fielding.
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     Garnish bolt (Carp.), a bolt with a chamfered or faceted
        head. --Knight.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Garnish \Gar"nish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Garnished; p. pr. &
     vb. n. Garnishing.] [OE. garnischen, garnissen, OF. garnir
     to provide, strengthen, prepare, garnish, warn, F. garnir to
     provide, furnish, garnish, -- of German origin; cf. OHG.
     warn[=o]n to provide, equip; akin to G. wahren to watch, E.
     aware, ware, wary, and cf. also E. warn. See Wary, -ish,
     and cf. Garment, Garrison.]
     1. To decorate with ornamental appendages; to set off; to
        adorn; to embellish.
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              All within with flowers was garnished. --Spenser.
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     2. (Cookery) To ornament, as a dish, with something laid
        about it; as, a dish garnished with parsley.
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     3. To furnish; to supply.
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     4. To fit with fetters. [Cant] --Johnson.
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     5. (Law) To warn by garnishment; to give notice to; to
        garnishee. See Garnishee, v. t. --Cowell.
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